IVF is 40: 1985: The First Frozen Embryo Baby

Why freeze embryos?

During IVF treatment, one or two embryos are transferred to woman’s womb, in line with government advice. If more embryos are created these can be frozen and used if further IVF cycles are required.

Excellent IVF success rates from frozen embryos gives the option, in some cases, to delay embryo transfer.  Some patients find breaking the treatment in this way helpful as it gives time for the body to recover from stimulation and may be less stressful.  Your consultant will advise if this is appropriate for you.

It is also possible to freeze embryos ahead of cancer treatment or other medical procedure that may affect your fertility.  This would allow you and your partner to have fertility treatment when you are recovered. However, for this to happen, both parties must be in agreement so if you are not in a long-term relationship it may be advised to freeze your eggs or sperm instead as this provides more options in the future.

Why freezing embryos worked for Jessica and Marc

Jessica and husband Marc first started trying for a baby more than ten years ago, when Jessica was still in her twenties. They finally went to their GP and, after being referred for tests, were told that Jessica had a condition called Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) – one of the most common causes of fertility issues in women.

“I had been on the contraceptive pill for years before we got married and it had masked many of the symptoms,” Jessica explains.

PCOS disrupts the release of a woman’s eggs and common symptoms include irregular periods or no periods at all; excessive hair growth, such as on the face; weight gain; oily skin/acne and thinning hair.

Jessica was told that she would need to lose weight before the hospital would put her on ovarian stimulation drugs to try and boost her chances of getting pregnant naturally. “I basically switched from doing a bit of walking to running three times a week and hiring a personal trainer,” she laughs. “I lost a stone and a half and competed in the Great North Run. A few days after, I was told that I had lost enough weight to be put on fertility drugs!”

Over the next two years Jessica underwent two courses of ovulation induction treatment.

IVF referral

The couple were disappointed when they still didn’t conceive naturally and eventually they were referred for IVF treatment at Bourn Hall Clinic.

“By this point I was in my mid-thirties and I really did feel as though my body clock was ticking. I really had begun to think that perhaps being a mum just wasn’t going to happen to me,” Jessica said.

Jessica was devastated when her first attempt at IVF had to be cancelled half-way through because she only produced one follicle. She then fell pregnant naturally, but was devastated when she suffered a late miscarriage.

A ‘body break’ from IVF treatment

The couple decided to have another try at IVF and it was at this point that they met Dr Thanos Papathanasiou, Clinical Lead for Bourn Hall clinics in Norfolk.  He gave them the option of trying a radically different approach.

Jessica was given a higher dosage of drugs to stimulate her ovaries and then the eggs, which were retrieved and successfully fertilised, were all frozen instead of the usual practice of a ‘fresh’ embryo transfer happening simultaneously. “The idea was that my body would have time to recover from the stimulation drugs before transfer,” says Jessica.

The couple went on holiday for three weeks before Jessica underwent a frozen embryo transfer which resulted in a healthy pregnancy and the birth of Elisabeth.

Elisabeth (Lizzie) was named after Jessica’s mum who passed away suddenly 15 years ago.

“When Lizzie was born we had around 150 cards and presents,” smiles Jessica. “We had been very open about our journey to have a child. Lots of my mum’s friends and relatives sent us cards and gifts. It was amazing.”

Jessica and Marc are now settled in to family life with their daughter, but Jessica says she kept pinching herself for the first few months. “It took us a couple of months to believe that it had really happened.

Life changing

“Over the years I used to have dreams sometimes that I had a baby and would wake up and it wasn’t true. It took me a while to realise that I wasn’t still dreaming. Meeting Dr Papathanasiou was life-changing. I cannot thank Bourn Hall enough, we are totally in awe and in love with the little baby girl they gave us.”

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